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Huskies wallop St. John's, slip by Valley City State
 Media Credit: Michael Martin/Managing Editor SCSU pitcher Konor Knudson delivers a pitch during the Huskies 13-3 win over St. John�s University Monday afternoon at Dick Putz Field. Knudson earned his first victory by pitching 7.1 innings and giving up three earned runs.
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 Media Credit: Michael Martin/Managing Editor Peter Burkstrand, a SCSU senior shortstop, makes contact during the Huskies 13-3 victory over St. John�s University Monday afternoon at Dick Putz Field.
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What once was lost, now is found.
Husky starting pitching turned in three stellar performances this week to earn their first sweep of the season. Victories over St. John's University and Valley City State showcased strong starting pitching that appeared to be missing lately.
Monday's 13-3 victory over St. John's University was an impressive show of offense for the Huskies, as eight different Husky batters collected hits in the nine-inning rout. Scoring five runs in the third, the Huskies never looked back. After a scoreless inning and a half, Will Spencer got things started for the Huskies in the bottom of the second when he hit a hard grounder past the diving third baseman for the first of his two hits. Shortstop Peter Burkstrand followed by singling to right. A wild pitch by Johnnies' pitcher Sean Spencer allowed both runners to advance a base, and with runners on second and third, Craig Flippen hit a hard liner to the gap in left center to collect a double and two RBIs.
After the Johnnies scored a run in the top of the third to cut the lead to one, the Huskies went off for five runs in the bottom half of the inning.
The two out rally began with a Mark Dingman walk, followed by Mark Fischer singling to left. Will Spencer then doubled, scoring both runners, and was followed by Burkstrand, who drove one down the right field line for another double, scoring Spencer. The Johnnies' problems looked to be over for a second when Flippen hit a ground ball to the right side of the infield, but a throwing error by second baseman Matt Pilon prolonged the inning, and advanced Burkstrand to third. Chris Kratochvil then singled to left, scoring Burkstrand and Flippen for the fourth and fifth runs of the inning.
After a scoreless fourth inning, the floodgates opened up again for the Huskies in the fifth. With the bases loaded, Mike Holman reached on a fielder's choice when he hit a ground ball to the first baseman Jamie Louwagie, who then threw Kyle Heckendorf out at second. Kratochvil advanced to third, and Flippen scored. With two outs, designated hitter Parnell O'Connor sent one deep to left center for his fourth home run of the season, and an 11-1 lead.
Pitcher Konor Knudson was cruising along until the seventh when he ran into some trouble, giving up three hits and two runs, before settling down to escape the inning and leaving two Johnnies stranded. Two key errors committed by the Johnnies in the bottom of the seventh helped the Huskies add two more for the last scores of the game.
Knudson pitched a gem of a game, scattering eight innings, striking out four, without allowing a walk. The victory evens his record at 1-1.
Tuesday's doubleheader against Valley City State produced two more strong pitching performances. Game one starter Reggie Litke went the distance, allowing two runs, six hits and one walk, while striking out six. Paul Buboltz started in game two's come from behind victory. Buboltz pitched six solid innings, allowing two runs, six hits, and two walks while striking out five.
Valley City State jumped out to an early lead in game one, when two straight singles and a wild pitch put runners on second and third. Viking designated hitter James Thornton then grounded out to short, scoring leadoff man Bud Penner from third.
The score remained 1-0 until the bottom of the third when the Huskies came roaring back with a five run inning. Burkstrand led the inning off by walking, followed by a Flippen single to left. Kratochvil then walked, and with the bases loaded, Heckendorf singled to right to score two and take the lead. A throwing error by Vikings catcher Robert Frye allowed Kratochvil to score and Heckendorf to advance to third. Holman then doubled to center, scoring Heckendorf. A sacrifice fly moved Holman to third and Mark Fischer singled to center to score Holman for the fifth run of the inning.
The game would remain at 5-1 until Litke surrendered a two out solo home run to Viking first baseman Mark Fabian in the sixth. The Huskies responded in their half of the inning and added to their lead when Mark Fischer walked, and then was sacrificed to second. Burkstrand singled to right field to score Fischer for the 6-2 lead. That is all the insurance the Huskies needed as Litke retired the Viking side in order in the seventh for the complete game victory.
"We've always had confidence in our pitching," said Heckendorf. "I think our hitting and runs have helped our pitchers relax and be more confident. When we have a big lead, they don't have to worry as much about making a big mistake."
The victory in game two was especially rewarding for the Huskies. It was their turn to come from behind and show their character and resolve. The Huskies have been involved in several games this season where they have taken a lead into the late innings only to see it evaporate.
The Vikings jumped on Husky pitching early again in game two as Buboltz allowed three straight singles to load the bases in the first. A sacrifice fly by designated hitter Erik Anderson scored Penner from third, but that was all VCSU was going to get. Buboltz struck out the next batter, Fabian, and got right fielder Kevin Perez to ground out to second, stranding two base runners.
The Vikings had a 1-0 lead, but not for long. The Huskies countered in their half of the inning. Mike Holman singled and advanced to second on an error by Viking second baseman Frye, and then moved to third. A ground out by Andy Gretz scored Holman to tie to game at one.
Buboltz wouldn't allow another hit until the fourth inning. After striking out the first batter, Buboltz walked Perez, who then advanced to second on a wild pitch. Viking left fielder Derek Spitzer doubled, scoring Perez from second, to take the lead at 2-1 that would stand until the sixth.
After Heckendorf began the inning by grounding out to first, Holman walked, and advanced to second on a passed ball. Viking pitcher Justin Bear then walked Gretz and O'Connor to load the bases. Another error by the Viking second baseman Frye allowed Mark Dingman to reach and Holman and Gretz to score, but O'Connor was out at second. A single by Kevin Macdonald advanced Dingman to second, and Spencer then reached on a walk to load the bases. Viking skipper Cory Anderson had seen enough, as he brought in Tom Klapp to relieve Bear.
The move worked, as Klapp got Jefry Reichstadt to pop up to first. The Vikings were out of the inning but not before surrendering the lead. The Huskies left three men on, but it didn't end up costing them.
"Baseball's a game where everybody can't hit the ball all the time," said Heckendorf. "That's why we need everyone to contribute. The more runs we score, the better off we'll be."
After walking the first batter in the top of the seventh, Buboltz was replaced by Matt Beyer, who sent down the three batters he faced to give the Huskies a 3-2 win and record his first save of the season.
"I think these wins prove scoring more runs definitely helps our pitching come along," said Beyer. "We can't always win 1-0 games."
Solid starting pitching that takes the team deep into the game in addition to solid defense and consistent run production will almost always spell victory. The Huskies won the last three games playing their style of ball.
They knew they would need to rely on their pitching to win games this year, and the three games earlier this week are quintessential examples of how they were meant to win games.
Drew Herron can be reached at: [email protected]
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